Kenneth Lynn Wilhite

Kenneth Lynn Wilhite, current resident of Lindale, Texas, frequent visitor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, left this earth for his heavenly resting place on December 31, 2024. Ken was a loving father and grandfather, and he will be missed dearly by his family. He attended James Madison High School in Houston where he was on the rodeo team competing in saddle bronc and bareback. He served Honorably as a Sergeant in the United States Army in the Vietnam Campaign, and for his service and in exchange for his right leg, he was awarded a Purple Heart and earned a Combat Infantry Badge and Army Commendation Medal. After his military service he attended San Angelo State University. He had a successful career with Browning Ferris Industries in Houston, receiving top sales awards. He later began his last career, which was in the oil field, and was employed by Weatherford Lamb, Raymond Hedge and Mustang Drilling and then as an independent drilling consultant and was pulled all around the world, including all over Texas, Louisiana, the Republic of Georgia, Romania, and The Russian Federation, Ural and Siberia. Over the course of his life, Ken was an avid team roper, horseman, scuba diver, sailor, boater, water skier (slalom, of course). He loved West Texas and was an avid hunter and outdoorsman traveling to Colorado and New Mexico to hunt elk on horseback. For many years he was a volunteer at First Baptist Church Henderson teaching Sunday school and taking youth on summer trips. He loved movies – any and all kinds; classic cars and hot rods, history, and conspiracy theories (especially about aliens and pyramids). “Kenny” was the youngest in his family and anyone who knew him could tell. He was independent, entertaining, stubborn and unique. He never wore his cowboy hat on his head straight, it was cocked, inevitably to one side. Ken is survived by his three (3) children, John Travis Harris, Jennifer Wilhite Green, and Kanaan L. Wilhite, his five (5) grandchildren Allison Lewis, Mark Travis Harris, James Owen Watkins III, Kanaan S. Wilhite and Madison R. Wilhite, his brother, John Wilhite and wife Debbie Wilhite, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, and loving extended family, inherited family members and friends. Other surviving family members include his former wife of 37 years Pamela Heinze Wilhite Hanson and extended family Roger Callender, Richard Callender, Amy Callender McBee, Wayne and Ann Heinze, Michael Wilhite, Jr., Lee Ann and Andy Mills, Michael Wilhite, Chris Wilhite, Sidney Price, Kim Hale Harris, Cortney C. Wilhite, Wayne McGinnis, and a host of Texans and Virgin Islanders. He is preceded in death by his parents, Celia Rush Wilhite and LeRoy Wilhite, his oldest brother Michael Wilhite, Sr., and Jane Bryce Wilhite, his sister, Celia Darnell Price, and sister-in-law Sandra Callender. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, from 4:00-6:00 pm at Stewart Family Funeral Home Tyler and graveside services will be held at Houston National Cemetery on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 2:15 pm. We love you Pop! This world isn’t nearly as fun or interesting without you in it.

Kenneth Lynn Wilhite

July 11, 1948 - December 31, 2024